Combination satellite dish with UHF/VHF antenna

ABSTRACT

A combination satellite television signal receiving antenna and a UHF/VHF antenna, particularly suitable for use with recreational vehicles. The satellite antenna is mounted for both horizontal and vertical adjustment having a circular periphery and the UHF/VHF dipole antenna is attached thereto and is of an arcuate configuration defining a portion of a circle concentric to the satellite receiving antenna dish configuration. The television and UHF/VHF antenna are mounted for simultaneous adjustment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationSerial No. 60/017,945 filed May 20, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to television antennas receiving satellitesignals and UHF/VHF antennas, mounted upon a common support.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recreational vehicles containing television sets and AM/FM receiverscommonly employ separate externally located roof mounted antennascapable of vertical and horizontal adjustment from within the vehicle topermit the antenna to be positioned for optimum signal receiving.Typical recreational vehicle antenna systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,665,477; 3,739,387 and 4,663,632.

The latest technology in television receiving signals utilize smallreflective dishes which are directed toward a stationary satellite, suchsystems being called Digital Satellite Systems. As such dish typeantenna must be pointed toward the satellite transmitter, the dish is,preferably, mounted upon the exterior of a recreational vehicle roof andassociated with operating structure internally located wherein the dishmay be raised and lowered between travel and operative positions, andmay be rotated and titled to the desired position for optimum signalreception.

UHF/VHF antennas normally consist of a dipole arrangement ofconsiderable length, and are usually of a linear configuration.Disposing the length of the dipole antenna at right angles to the signalpermits optimum signal strength to be received, and in the past, it hasbeen common to mount recreational vehicle UHF and VHF antennas for bothelevatable and retractable adjustment, as well as being rotatablypositionable.

Television antennas and UHF/VHF antennas are mounted upon separatelyoperated mechanisms, and duplicate operating systems are expensive, andoccupy an inordinate portion of the vehicle roof area. Previously, asuccessful combining of a television satellite receiving antenna systemand a UHF/VHF antenna has not been available.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to combine a satellite dish televisionreceiving antenna with a UHF/VHF antenna whereby both antennas may besimultaneously adjusted and directed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination satellitedish and UHF/VHF antenna for use with recreational vehicles wherein thecombined antennas are of a concise configuration and may besimultaneously directionally adjusted by common operating mechanismlocated within the vehicle interior.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The operating mechanism for the combination television receivingsatellite dish and the UHF/VHF antenna in accord with the invention ispreferably located upon the roof of a recreational vehicle on theunderside of the vehicle ceiling wherein the antenna structure may beboth elevatable and retractable, and rotatable about a vertical axisfrom within the vehicle.

The exteriorly mounted components of the antenna system located directlyabove the interiorly operated controls, includes a linkage systemwherein the satellite dish, which is of a circular and generally flatconfiguration, is pivotally mounted for tilting between raised andlowered positions. In the raised position, the antenna dish is in itsoperable condition, while it is lowered during vehicle travel.

A UHF/VHF dipole antenna system is mounted upon the satellite dishsupport, and satellite dish, and is of a closed loop configuration ofarcuate form so as to be generally concentric to the circular peripheryof the satellite antenna. In this manner, the complementaryconfiguration between the two antenna systems produces a conciseattractive total antenna system permitting both antennas to besimultaneously raised, lowered and rotated, and only a single set ofcontrols is necessary to install and operate when it is desired toposition either the television or UHF/VHF antennas.

The mounting of the UHF/VHF antenna adjacent a portion of the dishperiphery permits the bipolar antenna to protect a portion of thesatellite dish, while the satellite dish will also partially protect theUHF/VHF antenna.

The practice of the invention permits a number of economies ofmanufacture to be achieved, as well as reducing installation costs, andthe invention permits a variety of antenna systems to be economicallymade available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objects and advantages of the invention will beappreciated from the following description and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially sectioned, showing anantenna system in accord with the invention in a raised operativeposition,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the antenna system when raised,the operating structure not being illustrated,

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the antenna system, and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the antenna system in accord with theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, the ceiling or roof of a recreational vehicleis indicated at 10, and includes an inside surface 12 and an outsideroof surface 14. A hole 16 extends through the roof 10, and a crank 18and an adjustment wheel 20 located adjacent the inside surface 12respectively elevate and rotate the antenna structure mounted uponconcentric shafts 22 extending through the hole 16.

The antenna support 24 is connected to the upper portion of the shaft 22and includes a pivot 26, a horizontally disposed track 28 in which ascrew mechanism is located, and the nut on the screw mechanism includesa link 30. The satellite antenna is supported upon a base 32 mountedupon pivot 26, and the link 30 is pivotally attached to the base 32above the pivot 26 whereby movement of the linkage 30 will raise andlower the base 32 about pivot 26.

The television satellite signal receiving dish 34 is mounted upon thebase 32 and includes a shell 36 of a concave/convex configuration, as iswell known. The periphery of the shell 36 is circular, as will beappreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3, and with Digital Satellite Systems, thediameter of the dish 34 may not need by any larger than about eighteeninches.

An arm 40 is mounted upon the base 32 and extends forwardly of the dish34 for supporting the receiver 42 located at a focal point of thesignals reflected off the dish shell 36. A U-shaped guard 44 extendsabout the receiver 42 for protecting the receiver.

The UHF/VHF antenna is generally indicated at 46, and includes dipoles48. FIG. 3, which extend upwardly from the base 32 and are bent awayfrom each other adjacent the upper periphery of the dish 34 intoportions 50 and 52 as will be appreciated from FIG. 3.

The UHF/VHF antenna portions 50 and 52 are bent into U-configurations attheir lowermost portions 54, FIG. 1, and extend upwardly in portions 56and 58 wherein the portions 58 and 60 will be interconnected at theiruppermost region. Supports 60 interposed between the portion 58 and theshell periphery 38, and the portion 56 and the shell periphery 38support the upper region of the UHF/VHF antenna.

The antenna portions 52 and 58 and 50 and 56 are in alignment, as willbe appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3, and the curved antenna portions 50,52, 56 and 58 are of a circular configuration concentric to theconfiguration of the dish shell periphery 38. In this manner, anattractive relationship between the dish 34 and the antenna 46 ismaintained, and of course, as the antenna 46 is wholely mounted on thebase 32, the antenna 46 will be adjusted vertically and rotatably byoperation of the crank 18 and wheel 20, respectively, so that thestrongest signal may be received.

The mounting of the antenna 46 in the disclosed manner also permits theantenna curved portions to protect the outer periphery of the dish 34,while in turn, the support of the antenna 46 on the shell providesprotection and rigidity to the antenna 46.

The combination of the television signal receiving dish 34 with theUHF/VHF antenna 46 eliminates the necessity for installing separateantennas, and the economies and ease of installation of the inventionprovides significant advantages over the prior art.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive conceptsmay be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. In combination, a dish antenna for receiving televisionsignals, adjustable support means supporting said dish antenna foradjustment relative to the direction of transmitted signals, asubstantially circular periphery defined on said dish antenna, and aUHF/VHF antenna .[.mounted upon said support means.]. located adjacentsaid dish antenna periphery having a .Iadd.substantially.Iaddend.circular shape conforming to the configuration of said dishantenna periphery and having the same center of curvature as that ofsaid dish antenna periphery for simultaneous directional adjustment withsaid dish antenna.
 2. In a combination as in claim 1, said UHF/VHFantenna comprising a dipole antenna having first and second spacedelements.
 3. In combination, a dish antenna for receiving televisionsignals, adjustable support means supporting said dish antenna foradjustment relative to the direction of transmitted signals, a.Iadd.substantially .Iaddend.circular periphery defined on said dishantenna, and a UHF/VHF dipole antenna having a pair of ends and acentral region, said central region being of a .Iadd.substantially.Iaddend.circular configuration corresponding to said dish antennaperiphery, .[.said dipole antenna ends being affixed to said adjustablesupport means,.]. and support brackets supporting said dipole antennacentral region adjacent said dish antenna periphery.
 4. In a combinationas in claim 3, said support brackets being affixed to said dish antennaperiphery.
 5. In a combination as in claim 4, said dipole antenna havingfirst and second spaced elements, said support brackets being attachedto said first element.